80 people will soon be without a job in Glen Ellyn.
Crain's Business Chicago is reporting that First Student Inc., a bus provider located in Glen Ellyn, will lay off 80 employees starting at the end of June.
The company attributes the lay offs to the loss of a recent contract, according to Crain's.
Currently, First Student Inc., drives students from Glenbard High School District 87 and elementary districts 16, 41, 89 and Queen Bee Elementary District 16, Carol Stream Elementary School District 93 and Wheaton School District 200.
After looking to cut budget costs, the Glen Ellyn districts joined forces to send out a single bid to find the least expensive busing service.
The school boards approved the lowest-bidder, Illinois Central School Bus, in April for a $11.3 million, three-year contract that will save District 87 $725,000 a year, and a total of $500,000 a year for the feeder districts.
Even though Glen Ellyn schools are changing bus providers, a District 200 spokesperson says they plan to continue service with First Student.
It's unclear how many employees currently work at the Glen Ellyn office, located at the end of Poss Street. Employees did not comment about the June 30 lay offs and deferred comment to corporate headquarters in Ohio.
Claire Hanan
8:12 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sad news for those being laid off. Let's hope their severance packages are substantial.
Julie Farrell
9:27 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I'm with Claire! So sad, I hope everyone comes out of it alright.
BobS
10:01 am on Thursday, June 9, 2011
It stands to reason that Illinois Central bus company will be hiring since they now have a new contract to service. I'd suspect a lot of the drivers will wind up there.
Elle
2:39 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
First Student also used to have the Downers Grove and Woodridge School District contracts. The 3 DG and Woodridge School Districts also combined efforts and re-bid the transporation contract. First Student lost out to Westway Coach. Word is First Student bus drivers are unionized and represented by Teamsters Union, while Westway Coach is non-union. Seems to be a controvery brewing with Westway seeking a zoning permit to put their bus depot in Lisle next to a day care center. Westway was hiring last week but likley the union drivers would take some cuts to work for a non-union bus company.
Elle
3:34 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
http://lisle.patch.com/events/job-fair-westway-coach-school-bus-drivers-2